THE ROSS: The 2021 Year End Report
DANGER! Politics ahead! EEK!
2021 began with a searing shock: domestic traitors to my country attacked the US Capitol with the intention of murdering people and overthrowing an election.
And these evildoers always refer to themselves as…patriots.
Orwell, live.
In the eleven months following, all evidence reveals that these traitors were Trump supporters. And this buttresses what our intelligence agencies announced in 2020: Domestic white supremacists present the gravest terror threat to America.
And during the last twelve months I have watched with additional horror as the Republican party has been working openly to destroy democracy. The party is doing everything it can to rationalize away the horror of 1/6 (“they were tourists.”), block Biden, block all efforts to help you and me, block people from voting, block Democrats from being able to count votes, block women from having a right to choose, block people from wearing masks, and scare people from getting vaccines. And people on Fox? They endless denounce getting vaccines…all the while they are vaccinated (which Fox requires of all its employees). And this would explain why the majority of people dying of Covid are not vaccinated. And not Democrats.
The GOP is killing its base.
All this is horrifying.
And the media? They are aiding and abetting this effort to destroy democracy. The media continues to downplay the evils the GOP is openly doing, while continually downplaying the successes of the Biden administration.
The media, IMO, is not consciously doing this. But they are doing it nonetheless. From my observation this bizarre dynamic is the result of forty years of the GOP screaming about the media being too Liberal. The media, thus, now bends over backwards to play nice with the GOP, while simultaneously fucking over Democrats. “See! We’re not too Liberal!”
In his book, The World As It Is, Ben Rhodes, who spent eight years in the Obama administration, details this profoundly damaging dynamic. In one instance he recounts calling a reporter who published a front page article in a major newspaper. Rhodes though knew the story was not true. The reporter admitted that he, too, knew it was not true.
Rhodes, livid: “So why did you publish it?”
Reporter: “Because a Republican Senator called me with the story.”
“What??????????”
“You don’t get it. It doesn’t matter if the story is true or not. What matters is that it’s a story. It’s out there.”
And this sick, sick dynamic has the very real possibility of destroying democracy.
On numerous occasions I have posted about all the good Democrats have accomplished to lift the lives of millions of people. I have not found a single thing the Republican party has done to help people, save giving huge tax breaks to vastly wealthy people who do not need the money.
The Republican party has ZERO policies to help you and me. Yet there will be people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party, in my lifetime, has created fewer jobs than Democrats have. Yet there will be people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party, in my lifetime, has raised the debt far more than Democrats have. Yet there will be people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party, when in power, results in more abortions than when Democrats are in power. Yet there will be pro-life people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party, as stated, is openly trying to destroy democracy. Yet there will be people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party is actively killing people. Yet there will be people reading this who will still vote GOP.
The Republican party is all about scaring people rather than helping people. CARAVANS! ANTIFA! BLM! SOCIALISM! TRANSGENDER PEOPLE! And the list goes on. And on. Tragically, this works on most GOP voters. And this will explain why people reading this will still vote GOP.
.
In the 1980s and 1990, I would get into conversations with Republicans and, while we would often disagree, the conversations never felt detached from reality.
However, it has been at least a decade since I had a reality-based conversation with a Republican. In a pattern which has shown itself 100% consistent for years now, everything a Republican believes about Democrats is wholly detached from reality, while everything they believe about their own party is also wholly detached from reality.
Such conversations have a powerfully surreal quality.
And this total, willful disconnect from reality may destroy America. And Fox is fostering this.
All this presses against me like a weight. It has overshadowed 2021. I’m terrified for my country.
Terrified.
Terrified.
Biden was sooooo not my first choice. Yet I have been impressed with him, and of his administration. The White House and Democrats in Congress have worked their asses off to…as always…help the American people. And the Republican party has worked feverishly to block most of this. Yet, even with this powerful road block, my party is getting stuff done.
You would not know this from the media though.
In March, I developed a blood clot. Being uninsured, the medical bills proved daunting. Today, I think I am OK. Although my pre-clot energy level has not returned. Thus, for the last nine months trying to get stuff done is a struggle. I do not know if this is a new normal. The thought is…discomforting.
I have received two vaccinations, and a booster last week. I normally wear a mask when in public. Why the latter, if I am protected? Because it shows respect for others.
For, it is not about ME. It is about WE.
Something Republicans seem unable to comprehend.
As y’all know, I have a lot of cats. And some wander into my life. And some departed this year.
APRIL. Limpy appeared, profoundly injured, and all at once my life changed. He moved to Florida in June. My two months with him were…intense.
JUNE. Snoot as a kitten, lower right, many years ago. He moved to Florida.
AUGUST. Stevie. The last picture. He moved to Florida.
NOVEMBER. In 2018, Julie brought New Kitty to me. And I fell in love. She moved to Florida.
In November, Cody moved into the carriage house to help with my lighting business. My limited energy is devoted to helping get the house into a comfortable condition, and this effort will continue for months to come. So, the Cross House is now the ‘abandoned’ property.
However, I am hoping that come spring Justin will be available to help finish the cat fence. Then, I can move in.
What a day that will be.
Overall, the constant terror weighing on me notwithstanding, and my health, I have enjoyed the year. I am thrilled having the carriage house go from a wreck to being so much better and occupied. I am excited about working with Cody and getting to know him.
In 2017, the Cross House proved my salvation. At the beginning of the year I was so overwhelmed with the evil that had moved into the White House that I could not fathom getting through the year. But working on the house was creatively satisfying, and the joy at doing something positive almost every day proved a powerful balm.
And so, in 2021, the Cross properties again provided the same balm.
I remain single. And would love to partner with a man. I cannot get my head around being single in such a vast house.
I would like a doggie, too. I think. But, I am uncertain if Gray would approve.
I enter into 2022 with little expectations save, I hope, moving into the Cross House. The terror I daily feel is evenly matched…surprise!…by a sense of hope. Things are sooooooooooooo much better today than they were when I was born in 1957, and even though it seems like America has taken several steps back I suspect that this is an illusion.
With a nod to Martin Luther King, Jr., I hold this thought to my heart: the arc of human history bends toward beneficence.
May 2022 embrace all of you, warmly and generously.
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Well said, Ross. I couldn’t agree more. You have expressed my feelings perfectly. I hope my Marra and Bill who moved on in 2020 are enjoying playing with your kitties in Florida. We now have Tio, who didn’t have to work very hard to capture our hearts. I wish you all the best in 2021.
Just when we felt relief with the previous year’s election, 2021 really put us all through a wringer! Now, with a frosty beginning to this new year, I really do feel a sense of hope. I hope to see more exciting Cross House projects tackled. As always, much to do! 🌻
💜 Be well, Ross. Cheers to an exciting new year.🍷
And best wishes to you!
May Spirit be with all beings. May all afflicted with political delusions find their way home.
I hope all my kitties and canines who have retired to Florida are finding lots of playmates.
Thank you Ross, for the steady IV drip of hope, sanity and inspiration that you provide. You’re a good man.
Owning old home can be challenging and there are days when I ask myself “what have I done?” I want to tell you that thinking of you, the Cross house and all that you’ve accomplished as one man, it really helps me stay positive.
Your political posts help a weary mind as well. As a child of the 1980s, politics hardly occupied any space in my family.
Sure an uncle may have spouted at Thanksgiving about how weak Carter was making us look to Iran. Dad may have fostered a little hatred for Regan over breaking unions by ordering the air traffic controllers back to work but nobody thought any president was evil in the true sense of the word or illegitimate. Those disagreements were but a few moments of random days, not every moment of every day. Excommunicating a family member over their vote would have been labeled insane. So would covering your home and vehicle in banners and signs. Ones including profanity would have gotten you arrested for public indecency.
I appreciate the reminders of normality and sanity that you bring.
May 2022 bring you great things!
❤️
Dear Ross, you deserve so much to find love. I wish you the very best for this new year, and also to all the people who assist you with your work in the Cross House. 💝
Thank you for the review. You should be so proud of yourself and I want you to have all you desire. You’ve given me some optimism when I really needed it. Thank you! 🙂
Thank you, Laurie! It’s always kinda surreal to think that what I write on this blog thingy can impact people I will likely never meet. BIG hug! Ross
You’re on my bucket list! Working on health concerns that I want rid of… Thx again! 🙂
And, a very Happy New Year to you, too, Ross! I agree with your political assessment and it breaks my heart to see families and friends pick politics and sides over relationships. You write very much as a history professor I read every day that I think you would enjoy. Her name is Heather Cox Richardson. Check her out sitting some cold night with a nightcap in your hand. I think you would enjoy her “Letters to an American” series!
Thank you, Cindy!
And I love Heather!
Thank you once again for stating what so many of us feel. My hope for 2022 is that it is a year of healing…for this country, both emotionally and physically, for my family, and I have resolved to try every day to do some little something to make things a little better for someone. I hope to be retired by the end of this new year, and finally have the time to spend with my grandchildren that I want, and to hopefully make much progress on finishing my own old house restoration. My hope for you is that you are soon living in the Cross House, and that your dreams come true; as much happiness as you share with others, you certainly deserve to be happy yourself. Best wishes to all of our Cross House “family” in this new year!
A heap of blessings and peace upon your head, Ross. You’ve earned it and deserve it. I know Cody will be one of those blessings in the coming year. I predict you two will make great strides at the Cross House in 2022 and you’ll be moved in soon. I hope Cody is counting his blessings, too. I am jealous af of the opportunity you are giving him. I wish I were 40 years younger. Fair warning: I retire in July. You may find me on your doorstep yearning to volunteer in some small way. Just sayin’.
As always, you expressed my thoughts exactly. But I do believe things will get better with our country and politicians. We have hit lows before and have weathered through – much like the Cross House! Look how it is rebounding with some love and hard work.
I also had two of our kitties move to Florida last year. One decided to retire after 17 years of love. The other unexpectedly with diabetes issues at 6 years of age. I miss them both! So, recently, we took in a 9yr old ginger male, and a 6yr old all black female. That brings our total to four in our household. It helps to fill our 1870 home that we constantly have a projects on going.
Many blessings to you (and Cody) for the coming year and continuing the good work on the Cross House and Carriage House.
Thank you Ross from Ohio. Enjoy your engaging writing, love the houses, even your readers are
interesting. Farleena
Where are you, Ross?
Loved your year end report!
Dear Ross, continue to do great things. Thanks for your insights on the American political front, and on taking on an architectural renovation. Bless you in 2022!
You are so 1000% correct. It is so nice to read that somebody thinks as I do.
I have been so saddened and sickened by what’s going on. I now live in an area that is dominated by Republicans. And, like you wrote, it used to be okay to have a different view on politics with your family and friends. No big deal. We usually ended up laughing about it.
But you can’t have a discussion about politics this day and age. I’m just sickened by it. Especially because the generations coming up are going to think this is normal. I’m hoping they don’t carry it on.
I will be moving out of this state by April 1st. I just have to get around some normal people. My kids tell me I’m crazy and I’m looking for the 1950s. I say okay let’s call it the fifties where the people were nice, kind, trusting and truthful. I’m almost 62 but I’m not going to stop looking until I find it. I am determined to be the change that I want to see in the world.
Anyway, I have loved your writing. It’s always been funny and uplifting, and informative. This is the first time I’ve come across your political view. And I love you even more.
PS: as I was reading your article I thought “who are all these people adopting cats in Florida”?? Then I saw posts from other people talking about how their cats went to Florida. Ok, ok I get it now. But when my cats pass I don’t want them going to Florida. That’s where I’m moving out of!!! They deserve someplace better.
VERY nice to meet you, Kathe! BIG hug!